Outboard motor well and guard



y 6, 1954 M. D. COHEN OUTBOARD MOTOR WELL AND GUARD Filed Aug. 11, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l [Aim/1 m Monro/Y D. Col/Ml Arrows July 6, 1954 M. D. COHEN OUTBOARD MOTOR WELL AND GUARD Filed Aug. 11, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [MW/Wm MORTON D. Cal/6W WM,MMM/% Patented July 6, 1954 UNITED STAT-ES FATE- NT OF -F ICE .OUTBDARD MOTOR WELL ANDGUARD 'Morton'D. T Cohen, Minneapolis; Minn.

.Application Augustlll, 1952, Serial No.;303,733

13 Claims. 1

This inventionrelates to boats. More particularly, it relates'to an outboard'motor well and uard for use. on a boat.

One of themost frequent inconveniences experienced by fishermen and others who use-outboard motors on boats is the requirementfor replacement of-ashearv pin in the propeller shaft of themotor after an obstruction such as alog or rock has been encountered by the propeller. The replacement of a-shearvpin ina propeller shaft while out on the water in .aboat isiboth difiicult and time consumingand a source of. annoyance to the user. of the motor. Myinvention isv directed toward the elimination of such arequirement for all time.

It is a general object of my invention to provide-a combined outboard motor Well and guard which will eliminate the need for replacing a shear pin every time-an obstruction is .passed over with the boat upon which the motor is mounted.

A more specific object is to provide acombined outboard motor well-and guard which will positivelyguard the propeller of the motorand preclude the'possibility of its shear pin-being sheared.

.Astill more specific object is to provide acombined outboard motor well and guard which, when an obstruction is passed over with theboat, will automatically causethe outboard motor to be'lifted to a clearing position above the obstruction.

Another object is to provide a oombinedoutboard motor well and guard which, when an obstruction is passed over with the boat, .will cause the outboard motor to be raised ,to an. elevatedposition'so as to clear the obstruction and will simultaneously maintain .a guard "between the obstruction and the propeller of the motor.

Another object is to provide anoutboard. motor well and guardwhich will normally holdthe outboard motor-in fixed position relative to the boat but will release the motor for vertical movement'relativeto the boat when the boatrides over an obstruction-and which will thereafter l e-engage the motor and'again hold it in fixed position relative to thepboat.

These and otherobjects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following'description, made in connection-with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the severalrviews, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view. of one embodiment of .my inventionwiththe motor shown in side elevation taken along approximately .line l| of Fig. 2;

. enlargedscale-showing a thirdtype of slidable motor support'whichmay be used in conjunction. with the guidewayot the embodiment shown;

Fig. 7 is-a fragmentary detailed view on an enlarged-scale showing-thefourthtype of slidablemotor support which may be used in-:conjunction with the. guideway of theembodiment shown;

Fig. 8 is -a-verticaL-sectional view of a second embodiment .of .my invention with the motor shown in side elevation and :taken along .approximately line-.-8-8 .ofiF-ig. 9;

Fig. .{9 :is-a horizontalsectional view of the seconde-mbod-i-ment-taken. approximately along line 9-9'0f Fig. 8;

Fig. 10.-is a fragmentary-side elevational-v-iew of the lower-endportion of an outboard-motor with aguard mounted-thereon in accordance with my invention for use with the motorwell and slidable-motor.support as shownin Figs. 8 and-.9.

One embodiment of: my invention as shown. in Figs. 1-3, may include-a boat (not shown. in full) having a bottom .I l with an opening l2. formed therein. .Secured to thebottom ll of theboat inupstandingposition :by bolts is which pierce the same, isa tubulanmember Hi havingthe same shape -as the opening [land of. a diameter equal. to that of the opening. This tubular member 14 has an outwardlyextending flange. l5-at its lower endwhichabuts againstthe underside of the. bottom l I 1 of I the. boat when the member is mounted-thereupon-as best shown in Fig. .1. When-.sopositioned-the tubular member [4 extends upwardly through thebottom of the boat and the flange: [5 .cooperateswith a ring member I 6 which surrounds the tubular member to hold the tubular imember in upstanding position. Gaskets .IT and [8 .are .positioned .between .the ring .member [6 .and the .bottom II and the flange [5 and .the'bottom H .so .as .to prevent leakage of water into the boat. The tubular member I l is of sufficient length so as to extend upwardly a substantial distance above the bottom of the boat and above the level of the water outside the boat. It is obvious, of course, that the tubular member M will be of sufficient length if it extends up to the level of the upper edge of the boat or thereabout. The embodiment shown in Figs. 1-3 utilizes a tubular member which is rectangular in shape and has opposed side walls I la, a forward wall I41) and a rear wall lee.

Extending inwardly from the opposed side walls lea adjacent the rear wall Me of the tubular member 54 are two opposite inwardly extending flanges l9 and 2|] which together provide a guideway hereinafter designated as G. Mounted in this guideway G in free sliding relation thereto is a motor support panel 2 the upper central portion 22 of which is out free from the more lateral portions and bent inwardly as best seen in Fig. 1, and is then bent upwardly to provide a vertical portion 23 adapted to receive the motor M thereupon. The upper side of the lateral portions 24 and 25 of the motor support panel 2| may be a plain panel as best shown in Fig. 4 which slides within the guideway G and causes the motor support panel 2| to be maintained in vertical position for free sliding vertical movement when required. These side or similar portions 24 and 25 may be provided with rollers 25 which extend laterally thereof, as shown in Fig. to facilitate the vertical sliding movement of the motor support panel relative to the tubular member [4. If desired, a plurality of rollers may be provided for each or" these side portions so that there is one laterally disposed roller 21, one forwardly disposed roller 28 and one rearwardly disposed roller 29. The forwardly disposed roller 28 is positioned to move within a groove 36 formed in its respective flange and the rearwardly disposed roller is positioned to move vertically in an opposite groove 3| in the rear wall 140. This may best be seen in Fig. 6. Another modification of the manner of mounting the motor support panel 2| is seen in Fig. '7 wherein plastic blocks 32, 33 and 34 are provided at the side of the motor support panel to move in grooves provided therefor to facilitate the vertical movement of the support panel. The motor M is solidly afilxed to its clamp 61 and is not allowed to move relative to clamp 61 about pin 63.

Connected to the motor support panel 2| is a mechanism indicated generally as 35 for moving the support panel 2| and the motor M vertically when an obstruction is encountered by a part of the mechanism 35 which extends downwardly beneath the bottom ll of the boat. This mechanism 35 includes a pair of opposed laterally spaced feeler members 36 each of which is pivotally mounted at its upper end portion upon the lower end of the tubular member M as at 3?. Each of the feeler members 36 has a rearwardly extending normally horizontal arm 38 the free end 39 of which is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 40 to a link 4| which in turn is pivotally connected at its upper end to the upper side portions 24 or 25 as at 42. A spring 43 connectseach of the pivotal connections at 40 to the upper end portion of the tubular member on the opposite side. This spring 63 constantly urges the portion of the arm 38 and the link 4| adjacent the pivotal connection upwardly in the direction in which the spring extends. A pair of stops 44 4 and 45 extend inwardly from the side walls |4a of the tubular member l4 to prevent the arms 38 and the links 4| from moving to or beyond deadcenter position.

Mounted on the two opposed feeler members 33 and extending therebetween is a plurality of rearwardly declining deflector plates 46 to which rigidity is provided by means of a plurality of vertical rods 41 arranged as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. By referring to Figure 2 it can be seen that the deflector plates together form a V-shaped open framework structure which serves as a deflector and a guard to prevent obstructions from encountering the propeller d3 of the motor M.

Holding the motor support panel 2| normally fixedly relative to the tubular member I4 is a latch mechanism indicated generally as L and which includes a housing 69 which is mounted upon the flange l5 of the tubular member |4 in depending position. Within the housing 2-9 is a U-shaped latch element 50 adapted to engage the motor support panel 2| in a notch 5| provided therein for that purpose. This latch element 53 is constantly urged forwardly to latching position by a spring 52 and is pivotally connected by a link 53 to the upper and swinging portion of one of the panel members 36.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a second embodiment of my invention wherein the boat bottom 55 has a circular opening 56 therein adapted to receive a tubular member 51 which is circular in crosssectional shape and has an outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the opening. This tubular member 5? has a second tubular member 58 mounted therein in free sliding relation, the external diameter of this second tubular member being slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the tubular member 51. A pair of outwardly extending stops 59 prevent the second tubular member 58 from passing downwardly through the tubular member Fall. A motor support in the form of a cross-sectional panel 63 extends across the interior of the second tubular member 58 and is adapted to have the motor M mounted thereupon.

Secured to the lower end portion of the second tubular member 58 is an open framework wire cage 6|. As can best be seen in Fig. 8 this wire cage completely encircles the propeller 48 of the motor M and is curved so as to provide a deflecting surface as at 62 to cause the second tubular member 58, its motor support 62 and the motor M to ride upwardly in a free manner when an obstruction is engaged by the lower end portion of the wire cage 6|.

In order to facilitate the action of such an outboard motor well and guard in a boat, I have invented a different type of steering device for use on the motor M. As can best be seen in Figs. 1 and 8, this device consists of a steering wheel 63 which completely encircles the propeller shaft carrying the propeller 48 and permits the motor to be guided readily and easily from any position relative thereto. This preeludes the interference of the steering operation by other persons sitting adjacent to the motor well while the boat is moving through the water. The type of steering device provided on most conventional outboard motors is one wherein a handle extends outwardly from the motor. Such a steering device is entirely unsatisfactory where the motor is positioned in the central portions of the boat as is contemplated in the use of my invention.

accepts In operation, the motor M-is mounted upon the motor'support panel 2| in the manner shown in Fig. 1. The latch mechanism L-normallyholds the motor support panel 2| against relative vertical movement with respect to the tubular member I4. "As the boat moves forwardly through the water the deflector plates 46 direct the water downwardly toward the propeller and away from the open lower end of the'tubular member I 4. The feeler members 36 along with the rods 4'! act as-a feeler to engage any obstructions or obc stacles over which the-boat may pass. If such an obstruction or obstacle is encountered the feeler members 36 are urged rearwardly by the obstacle and they commence to pivot upon their pivot at 3? whereupon the link '53 of the latch mechanism L urges the latch element 50 rearwardly to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3. ihis movement is against the movement of the spring 52 and withdraws the latch element from the notch 5| formedin the motor support panel 2| so that the support panel is free to move upwardly. Simultaneously, the arm 38 is swung upwardly, this upward movement causing the link 4! to urge the motor support panel 2! vertically relative to the tubular member I4. This moves the motor support panel 2! upwardly and carries the motor M therewith toan elevated position so that the obstacle or obstruction will be cleared by the propeller-48 of the motor M. In this manner the obstruction or obstacle is avoided and there is no possibility-that the shear pin which drivably connects the propeller shaft and the propeller 48 being sheared. The spring 43 aids in causing the motor support panel 2| to be moved upwardly by tending to cause the arm .38 to swing upwardly and to move the link Mupwardly therewith.

As the feeler members 36 swing rearwardly they at all times remain in guarding position relative to the propellerAB-sothat there is no possibility of the obstacle or obstruction coming in contact with the propeller. In addition, the feeler members 36 together with the rods-41 and the deflector plates 46 normally prevent heavy weeds from engaging the propeller 4i! and causing it to markedly-lose power.

After the obstruction or obstacle has been passed over, the weight of the motor is sufficient to cause the motor support panel 2| to again descend to the position shown in Fig. 1. When it has reached this position the latch element -56 again re-engages the motor support panel 2| and holds the same in fixed position relative to the tubular member 14.

When the embodiments shown in Figs. 8-1()' are utilized, the second and inner tubular member58 is free to move upwardly relative to the tubular member 51 at all times but is prevented from moving downwardly beyond a predetermined position by the stops 59. When an obstacle is encountered by the open framework guard 6| the "curved surface thereof tends to cause .the tubular member to move upwardly relative to the outer tubular member E'I. 'After the obstruction has been passedoventheweight of the motor M is sufficient to cause the tubular member 58 and the motor support 60 to again descendto the positionshown in Fig. '8. The cage-6i prevents the propeller 43 from engaging such an obstruction or obstacle and causing the shear pin to be sheared. At the same time, it positively-acts as a guard against heavy weeds becoming entangled in the propeller.

Thus it can be seen that'I have provided a novel'dev-ice for mounting an outboard motor upona boat to positivelyprevent damage to the motorwhen an obstruction or obstacle is'passed over by the boat; It can be readily seen that the slidable motor support panels provided in my device and the panel mechanism cooperate to positively prevent'any' serious injury to the propeller ofthe-motor as a'result of encountering-an obstruction. It'should be noted that my device moves the propeller to a position completely out of danger and automatically provides for it returning to-its original position. Thus it can'be readily seen that I haveprovided anoutboard motor "well and-guard which effectively eliminates the need for replacing a shear pin-every time an obstruction is passed over by theboat and is engaged by the-propeller of the motor mounted thereupon. It should also be noted that mydeviceat all times maintains a guard relative to the propeller 48 while the motor and its propeller are beingelevated to an out-of-way position. At the-same time, I have provided a mounting for a motor which enables the motor to-be used to drive the boat in either direction and which will facilitate the use of such a motor inanyportion of the boat whatsoever.

In addition to the advantages outlined above, it should be noted that'my outboard motor well and guard substantially eliminates the danger of the operator of the motor from falling overboard, since the outboard motor is now positioned in the-middle of the boat and there is no longer anyrequirement for the operator to lean out- 'wardly over the water to perform repairs on the line has become entangled therewith. In addition, thedanger of the boat tipping as a result of the use of a high-powered motor has'been substantially eliminated, since the motor is now positioned adjacent the central portion of the boat instead of at one end thereof. Also, the danger of the motor becoming disengaged and lost has been eliminated. Each year many motors become disengaged from the rear end of boats and are lost in the water as a result.

Other advantages of my device for mounting an outboard motor upon a boat include the substantial reduction of the danger of fire, forthe motor is at no time tilted so that gasoline will run out of its tank when used in conjunction with my device. It is possible for an individual of relatively moderate means to have all the advantages of an inboard motor without the expense which is normally attendant therewith. In. addition, my device eliminates undue and sudden stresses upon the rear of the boat which over a period of time tend to weaken the-boat. At the same time the boat is considerably more stable when the motor is used in conjunction with my device adjacent the central portion of the boat.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement andproportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my'invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined outboard motor well and guard comprising a tubular member adapted to be mounted in upwardly extending position upon the bottom of a boat with the interior thereof communicating through the bottom of the boat with the water therebelow, a motor support slidably mounted within said tubular member for vertical movement relative thereto, and mechanism connected to said support and depending relative thereto for moving said support and the motor supported thereby upwardly when an obstruction is encountered by said mechanism.

2. A combined outboard motor well and guard comprising a tubular member adapted to be mounted in upwardly extending position upon the bottom or" a boat with the interior thereof communicating through the bottom of the boat with the water therebelow, a motor support slidably mounted upon said tubular member for vertical movement relative thereto and in position to support a motor within said tubular member, a swingable feeler member depending from said tubular member, and linkage mechanism connecting said ieeler member and said support and functioning to move said support and the motor supported thereby upwardly when an obstruction is encountered by said feeler member.

3. The combination of a boat having a bottom with an opening therein, a tubular member mounted upon the bottom of said boat and extending upwardly therefrom with the interior thereof communicating via the opening in said boat with the water therebelow, a motor support slidably mounted within said tubular member for vertical movement relative thereto, and mechanism connected to said support and depending therefrom for moving said support and the motor supported thereby upwardly when an obstruction is encountered by said mechanism.

4. The combination of a boat having a bottom with an opening formed therethrough, a tubular member mounted in upwardly extending position upon the bottom of said boat with the interior thereof communicating with said opening, a motor support slidably mounted within said tubular member for vertical movement relative thereto, a swingable feeler member connected to said tubular member and extendind downwardly therefrom, and linkage mechanism connecting said feeler member in driving relation to said support for moving said support and the motor supported thereby upwardly when an obstruction is encountered by said feeler member and the latter is swung by the obstruction.

5. A combined outboard motor well and guard comprising a tubular member adapted to be mounted in upwardly extending position upon the bottom of a boat with the interior thereof communicating through the bottom of the boat with the water therebelow, a guideway carried by said tubular member, a motor support slidably mounted within said guideway for vertical movement relative thereto and in position to support a motor within said tubular member, and mechanism connected to said support and extending downwardly relative to said tubular member for moving said support and the motor supported thereby upwardly when an obstruction is encountered by said mechanism.

6. A combined outboard motor well and guard comprising a tubular member adapted to be mounted in upwardly extending position upon the bottom of a boat with the interior thereof communicating through the bottom of the boat with the water therebelow, a guideway carried by said tubular member, a motor support slidably carried by said guideway within said tubular member for vertical movement relative thereto, a feeler member swingably mounted adjacent the lower end portions of said tubular member and extending downwardly therefrom, and linkage mechanism connecting said feeler member to said support in operating relation and functioning to move said support and the motor supported thereby upwardly when an obstruction swings said feeler member.

7. A combined outboard motor well and guard comprising a tubular member adapted to be mounted in upwardly extending position upon the bottom of a boat with the interior thereof communicating through the bottom of the boat with the water therebelow, a motor support slidably mounted within said tubular member for vertical movement relative thereto in position to permit such a motor to extend through the bottom of the boat and into the water therebelow, a swmgable feeler member connected with said support and depending from said tubular member adjacent the lower end portion thereof, and linkage mechanism connecting said swingable feeler member in driving relation to said support to cause said support and the motor supported thereby to move upwardly when an obstruction swings said feeler member.

8. A combined outboard motor Well and guard comprising a tubular member adapted to be mounted in upwardly extending position upon the bottom of a boat with the interior thereof communicating through the bottom of the boat with the water therebelow, a guideway mounted within said tubular member, a motor support slidably mounted within said guideway for vertical movement relative thereto, a feeler member pivotally connected to the lower end portion of said tubular member and depending therefrom, said ieeler member having an upper end portion, and linkage mechanism extending between the upper end portion of said feeler member and said support and moving said support and the motor supported thereby upwardly when an obstruction causes said feeler member to pivot.

9. A combined outboard motor well and guard comprising a tubular member adapted to be mounted in upwardly extending position upon the bottom of a boat with the interior thereof communicating through the bottom of the boa-t with the water therebelow, a guideway carried by said tubular member, a motor support slidably mounted within said guideway for vertical movement relative thereto, a feeler member pivotally mounted upon the lower end portion of said tubular member and depending therefrom, linkage mechanism connecting said feeler member in driving relation to said support and causing said support and the motor supported thereby to move upwardly when said feeler member is caused to pivot by an obstruction encountered, and latch mechanism connected to said motor support and normally holding said motor support in fixed position relative to said tubular member and functioning to release said support when said feeler member pivots.

10. A combined outboard motor well and guard comprising a tubular member adapted to be mounted in upwardly extending position upon the bottom of a boat with the interior thereof communicating through the bottom of the boat with the water therebelow, a guideway carried by said tubular member, a motor support slidably mounted within said guideway for vertical movement relative thereto and relative to said tubular member, a feeler member pivotally mounted adj acent the lower end portion of said tubular member and depending therefrom, linkage connecting said feeler member in driving relation to said support and causing said support and the motor supported thereby to be moved upwardly when said feeler member pivots, a latch member normally holding said support fixed relative to said tubular member, and a link connecting said latch member to said feeler member and functioning to release said latch member when said feeler member pivots.

11. A combined outboard motor well and guard comprising a tubular member adapted to be mounted in upwardlyextending position upon the bottom of a boat with the interior thereof communicating through the bottom of the boat with the Water therebelow, a motor support slidably mounted within said tubular member for vertical movement relative thereto, a feeler member pivotally mounted upon the lower end portion of said tubular member and depending therefrom ahead of the motor, and linkage mechanism connecting said feeler member in driving relation to said support and causing said support and. the motor supported thereby to move upwardly when said feeler member is pivoted by an obstruction encountered thereby, said feeler member including a plurality of rearwardly declining deflector elements adapted to direct the water downwardly and away from the opening in such a boat.

12. A combined outboard motor well and guard comprising a tubular member adapted to be mounted in upwardly extending position upon the bottom of a boat with the interior thereof communicating through the bottom of the boat 10 with the water therebelow, a motor support slidably mounted within said tubular member for vertical movement relative thereto, and a curved open framework guard connected to the lower portions of said motor support and depending thereto, a motor mounted on said support and extending downwardly through said tubular member with its propeller a substantial distance below the bottom of the boat, and a curved open framework guard connected to said motor and extending around the propeller of said motor to guard the same and to move said support and said motor upwardly when an obstruction is encountered by said guard.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 28,979 Gerard July 3,1860 1,204,895 Michel Nov. 14, 1916 1,225,252 Johnston May 8, 1917 1,226,699 Saunders May 22, 1917 1,840,949 Harvey Jan. 12, 1932 2,007,512 Walthers July 9, 1935 2,213,611 Ronning Sept. 3, 1940 2,451,781 Steele Oct. 19, 1948 

